The time to plan a tour to this amazingly varied area is now, as the best season is November to April. If you have always wanted to see India but were put off by the thought of heat, dust, dirt and noise, this is the place to go. Not to say these things are not there... but much less. The national parks and forests are lush green. The wildlife is spectacular, the birdlife dazzling. The people are laid-back, un-intrusive and proud, their colorful customs fascinating.

Jeep tours here are straightforward, although the roads are often winding and bumpy and accommodation varies from basic to very comfortable. Many roads outside the Assamese plains, especially in Arunachal Pradesh, are only lightly traveled, and therefore make for almost un-Indian relaxed traveling. For the same reason, as well as the spectacularly pristine forested mountain vistas they are ideal for long-distance bicycling as well.

Trekking in these parts is true exploration. We know very well, because we are slowly building up a repertoire of treks and walking tours, some of them first-ever. Such as walking tours on which you’ll be comfortably traveling by jeep from one area to the other while exploring remote villages in day walks. How about walking the jungle of one of Asia’s most biodiverse parks with elephants as your porters?